The Manitoba Museum is hosting a free solar eclipse viewing party from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. during the eclipse on Monday, August 21.

The city will experience a partial eclipse beginning at 11:40 a.m. It’s expected to reach a full 70% state at 12:57 p.m., before ending at 2:15 p.m.

The Manitoba Museum said it partnered with the Winnipeg Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada to provide solar telescopes to safely view the partial eclipse.

The museum said live views of the total eclipse will be televised from the centerline of its path.

The museum said it’s working with the Manitoba Association of Optometrists to provide special eclipse glasses for three-dollars a pair at the museum gift shift and optometrist offices around the city.

Direct sunlight can cause severe permanent eye damage, the museum cautioned.

Local Circumstances for Manitoba and Nunavut

     Start Max End Max %  
Winnipeg MB 11:40 AM 12:57 PM 2:15 PM 70.8%  
Brandon MB 11:36 AM 12:53 PM 2:11 PM 73.1%  
Dauphin MB 11:37 AM 12:52 PM 2:09 PM 69.0%  
Thompson MB 11:44 AM 12:54 PM 2:05 PM 53.5%  
Churchill MB 11:53 AM 12:58 PM 2:04 PM 43.2%  
Rankin Inlet NU 12:00 PM 12:59 PM 1:59 PM 32.7%  
Cambridge Bay NU 10:57 AM 12:41 PM 12:41 PM 24.5%  

CTV News spoke with many Winnipeg welder supplies stores who said they are sold out of shade 14 welders glass.